(reprinted from 2004)

 

As I think of this article about Ramadan, my first thoughts are not positive ones because it brings memories of discrimination that I faced as a child while growing up. It was Ramadan 1972 in Willingboro, New Jersey. I was in the sixth grade, something happened that altered how I thought of myself. My cousins had just emigrated from India. One of my cousins was in the same grade. 

 

My cousin’s teacher wanted to know why he wasn’t eating. Not satisfied with the explanation of the Islamic fasting month, the teacher came to my classroom and demanded, “Why isn’t your cousin eating?”  I explained Ramadan as best as a 12year old could while also wishing my cousin didn’t go to my school.  It was at that moment that a sentence was handed down to me.  A sentence that said, I Am Different.

 

For years I struggled with “being different”. As I grew older, the meaning of Ramadan became clearer and now I look forward to this time of spiritual growth. Yet, not much has changed in regards to education of non-Muslims about this month.

 

Today, I know there is a need for tremendous education of our school systems, employers and neighbors. A couple of years ago, I developed a fact sheet that I presented to the School Superintendent and the principals of the school district that my children attend. You will find this fact sheet after this article. Copy the page and hand it out to non-Muslims. Please consider sharing this with your children’s teachers, principals and superintendents.

 

Also, please consider hosting an iftar at your work. Invite your boss and your fellow employees. Host an iftar for your neighbors. Host an iftar for your children’s friends. Share with them the meaning of Ramadan, our holy month.

 

When I was growing up, I had to deal with “being different”. Now our children are dealing with our religion being portrayed in a negative way due to others using the name of our faith incorrectly.  Let us welcome the month of Ramadan with the Prophet’s sermon below. We need to give our children the tools to feel confident about who they are and that starts with us being leaders in various communities today.

 

About the Author: Mahnaz Shabbir lives in Stilwell, Kansas.  She is a first generation American Muslim Woman. Her parents immigrated to the United States in the 1950s from India. She was born in Philadelphia and has lived in the Kansas City area for the last 28 years.  She is the mother of 4 boys-second generation Americans.  She is the President of Shabbir Advisors, an integrated strategic management company that focuses on strategic management and diversity training. She is past President of the Heartland Muslim Council.

 

  

 

The Sermon Given By The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) 

On The Last Friday Of Sha'ban

On The Reception Of The Month of Ramadan

 

O People!
Indeed ahead of you is the blessed month of Allah.
A month of blessing, mercy and forgiveness.
A month which with Allah is the best of months.
Its days, the best of days, its nights,
the best of nights, and its hours, the best of hours.

It is the month which invites you to be the guests of Allah
and invites you to be one of those near to Him.

Each breath you take glorifies him;
your sleep is worship,
your deeds are accepted
and your supplications are answered.

So, ask Allah, your Lord;
to give you a sound body
and an enlightened heart
so you may be able to fast and recite his book,
for only he is unhappy who is devoid
of Allah's forgiveness during this great month.

Remember the hunger and thirst of the day of Qiyamah (Judgment)
with your hunger and thirst;
give alms to the needy and poor,
honor your old,
show kindness to the young ones,
maintain relations with your blood relations;
guard your tongues,
close your eyes to that which is not permissible for your sight,
close your ears to that which is forbidden to hear,
show compassion to the orphans of people
so compassion may be shown to your orphans.

Repent to Allah for your sins
and raise your hands in dua during these times,
for they are the best of times and
Allah looks towards his creatures with kindness,
replying to them during the hours
and granting their needs if he is asked...

O People! Indeed your souls are
dependant on your deeds, free it with Istighfar (repentance)
lighten its loads by long prostrations;
and know that Allah swears by his might:
That there is no punishment for the one who
prays and prostrates and he shall have no fear of the fire on the
day when man stands before the Lord of the worlds.

O People! One who gives Iftar to a
fasting person during this month will be like one who has freed
someone and his past sins will be forgiven.

Some of the people who were there then asked
the Prophet (s): "Not all of us are able to
invite those who are fasting?"

The Prophet (s) replied: "Allah gives
this reward even if the Iftar (meal) is a drink of water."

One who has good morals (Akhlaq)
during this month will be able to pass the
‘Siraat’...on the day that feet will slip...

One who covers the faults of others
will benefit in that Allah will curb
His anger on the day of Judgment...

As for one who honors an orphan;
Allah will honor him on the day of judgment,

And for the one who spreads his kindness,
Allah will spread His mercy over him on the day of Judgment.

As for the one who cuts the ties of relation;
Allah will cut His mercy from him...

Who so ever performs a recommended prayer in this month
Allah will keep the fire of Hell away from him...

Whoever performs an obligator prayer
Allah will reward him with seventy prayers [worth] in this month.

And who so ever prays a lot during this month
will have his load lightened on the day of measure.

He who recites one verse of the holy Qur’an
will be given the rewards of reciting the whole Qur’an during other months.

O People!
Indeed during this month
the doors of heaven are open,
therefore ask Allah not to close them for you;
The doors of hell are closed,
so ask Allah to keep them closed for you.
During this month Shaytan (Satan) is imprisoned
so ask your Lord not to let him have power over you."

 

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Ramadan: A Fact Sheet For Teachers and Parents

 

Islam is one of the world's major religions, and is the final link in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition of monotheism (belief in One God). Islam has two major religious celebrations.

One of them, known as Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), takes place during the time of the Hajj, or annual pilgrimage to the city of Mecca (in modern-day Saudi Arabia).

The other celebration occurs after the completion of Ramadan, the Islamic month during which Muslims (believers in Islam) fast daily from dawn to sunset as part of an effort towards self-purification and betterment. This holiday is known as Eid al-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast).

 

The Lunar Calendar

Among the most important duties for a Muslim is fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan, which is the ninth of the twelve months in the Islamic lunar calendar.

Muslims use a lunar calendar for many of their religious observances. A new month in the lunar calendar is determined by the appearance of a new crescent moon.

As a result, dates of events in the Islamic lunar year "move forward" about 11 days every year.

 

The Importance of Ramadan

Ramadan is important for Muslims is because it is believed to be the month in which the first verses of the Holy Qur’an (the divine scripture) were revealed by Allah (God) to Prophet Muhammad (570-632 C.E.).

Muslims consider the Qur’an to be God's speech recorded in the Arabic language, and transmitted to humanity through Muhammad, who is considered the last of the prophets.

This tradition of God-chosen prophets or messengers is believed to include such figures as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus.

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day. This means not consuming food and drink, including water, during the daylight hours.

For married adults, it also includes refraining from marital relations during the hours of fasting (i.e. the daylight hours).

In the Arabic language, fasting is known as Sawm. Muslims arise early in the morning during Ramadan to have a pre-dawn breakfast meal, known as Suhoor. At the end of the day, the fast is completed by taking the Iftar meal, which usually includes dates, fresh fruits, appetizers, beverages and dinner. 

 

Why Muslims Fast

For Muslims, fasting has a number of benefits:

1. It helps one to feel compassion for those who are less fortunate and underprivileged, since each day Muslims feel greater appreciation for what they have as a result of feeling hunger and thirst.

2. It allows one to build a sense of self-control and willpower, which can be beneficial throughout life in dealing with temptations and peer pressure. Through fasting, Muslims learn to control their natural urges such as hunger and thirst, and thus are able to better resist temptations for things which are not necessary, such as drugs or other unhealthy or harmful substances and behaviors.

3. It offers a time for Muslims to "purify" their bodies as well as their souls, by developing a greater sense of humility, spirituality and community. Ramadan is a very spiritual time for Muslims, and often they invite each other to one another's homes to break the fast and pray together. A greater sense of generosity and forgiveness is also characteristic of this time.

As with other duties in Islam, fasting becomes obligatory (i.e. one becomes accountable) after the age of puberty.

 

Eid al-Fitr

After the end of Ramadan, a very festive and joyous holiday is celebrated by Muslims, known as Eid al-Fitr [eed ul fit-ur], the Festival of Breaking the Fast. On the day of the Eid, Muslims attend special congregational prayers in the morning, wearing their nicest clothes.

After the completion of prayers and a special sermon, Muslims rise to greet and hug one another, saying "Eid Mubarak," which means "Holiday Blessings."

Later on, Muslim families visit each other's homes, and have special meals together. Children are often rewarded with gifts, money, and sweets. Lights and other decorations mark the happy occasion.